Mar. 10, 2020 Voiland College This Week

Go Cougs!

The Wall Street Journal featured a story on Lloyd Smith’s Major League Baseball baseball research.

Noel Schulz has been appointed as the WSU-Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Advanced Grid Institute interim co-director.

NSBE WSU was honored at the Black Student Union’s Annual Unity Banquet with the award of Organization of the Year.

The Daily Evergreen featured a story on the Crimson Robotics Club and their upcoming BattleBots competition.

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Events

March 9 – 13: Panopto Training

AOI is scheduling face to face and virtual Panopto trainings three (3) times daily through March 13th. Training is scheduled for 8 am, 12 pm and 4 pm daily. Staff and faculty can either attend in person or join at the above scheduled times in the Panopto zoom meeting. Registration is not required.

Tuesday, March 10

@ 11:00 AM ESIC Webinar: “A review of recent developments in nonlinear optimization of electric power systems,” w/Daniel Molzahn, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Thursday, March 12

@ 11:00 AM MME Seminar: “System-level challenges in soft robotics – design, modeling, control, and motion planning.”

@ 1:40 PM VCEA Donuts with the Dean: Join Dean Mary Rezac, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, for donuts and conversation.

Tuesday, March 17

@ 9:10 AM EECS Colloquium: “Robust algorithms against adversarial noise.”

Thru April 3

Carpenter Hall Gallery: “Giving Back: A Celebration of Harry C. Weller.”

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Be Safe Cougs

COVID-19 Questions and Answers

WSU has set up a website to serve as the university’s central source of updates and information about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

COVID-19. Questions, suggestions and recommendations from the WSU community can be sent to COVID-19.info@wsu.edu.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

However, as a reminder, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available.

Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

For information about handwashing, see CDC’s Handwashing website.

For information specific to healthcare, see CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings.

These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses. CDC does have specific guidance for travelers.

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Opportunities

IREACH Proposals Due March 10

The Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health is currently accepting applications for grants to foster research at Washington State University that will provide significant and innovative contributions to American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, LatinX, or rural health. Applications from faculty members in any discipline to fund research on health disparities impacting these populations are welcome.

Dedra Buchwald, MD, Director, IREACH, Clemma Muller, PhD, Methods Core Co-leader, and Caitlin Oberst, JD, Associate Director, IREACH, will conduct an application support meeting via Zoom on February 11 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Prospective applicants are encouraged, but not required, to attend.

Details for the February 11 Zoom meeting are as follows:
Zoom Link Meeting ID: 773 362 471

Panopto Training Every Day This Week

AOI is scheduling face to face and virtual Panopto trainings three (3) times daily through March 13th. Training is scheduled for 8 am, 12 pm and 4 pm daily. Staff and faculty can either attend in person or join at the above scheduled times in the Panopto zoom meeting. Registration is not required.

Non-Lecture Course Delivery Peer Mentors Needed

If you have non-lecture course delivery experience and are available to help your Voiland College peers, please reach out to your unit leadership to be involved in how we may support courses like these.

Modernization Readiness Survey

As you may be aware, the Modernization Initiative is currently in the process of preparing to implement Workday as our new system for finance, human resources, payroll, and grants administration, replacing AIS after more than 30 years. This implementation will change the way we work University-wide. As such, WSU is seeking to better understand the readiness of the WSU community for a change of this scale by inviting employees to participate in a short Modernization Readiness Poll.

Science Fair Needs Judges

Pullman’s Franklin Elementary Science Fair needs Guest Scientists to review projects on Wednesday, March 25th from 2-3 pm and Thursday, March 26th from 2-3 pm. Sign up.

WSU President’s Teaching Academy – Apply by March 16

The WSU President’s Teaching Academy is asking for applications from prospective new members who are particularly strong advocates for teaching and learning at WSU.

NW CASC Graduate/Post-doc Fellowship Proposals Due March 16

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) invites proposals for its 2020-2021 Research Fellowship Program from graduate students and post-doctoral scholars. The program supports research related to climate adaptation for Northwest natural and cultural resource management and provides training in the principles and practices of co-producing decision-relevant science. The deadline to submit proposals is March 16.

Oaks Academic Technology Award – Nominations Due March 23

Nominations are now being accepted for the $3,000 Oaks Academic Technology Award, which recognizes a faculty member’s innovative application of an existing technology to transform teaching and learning in their classroom (face-to-face, online, videoconferencing).

Affordable Learning Grant Applications Due March 23

The Office of the Provost is offering Affordable Learning Grants to fund faculty exploration and adoption of affordable learning materials. Grants ranging from $1,500 to $4,500 are available for faculty at all levels and all WSU locations.

Smith Teaching and Learning Grants – Apply by March 23

Faculty with innovative ideas to enhance teaching and learning are encouraged to apply by March 23 for a Smith Teaching and Learning Grant of up to $5,000.

JCDREAM Symposium March 26 – UPDATE

Out of an abundance of caution in light of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments, we are changing the format of the 2020 JCDREAM Symposium. At this time, we are postponing the in-person meeting on March 26th. Despite this, we would like to move forward with the breakout session portion of the event which had been scheduled from 10 AM – 12 PM. We will aim to hold these sessions over a videoconference throughout the day on the 26th. The full JCDREAM Symposium will be rescheduled for Fall 2020.

Kids’ Science and Engineering Day March 28

The Society of Women Engineers is excited to host the 11th annual Kids’ Science and Engineering Day! This year, KSED will take place on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m.-3:00 p.m., in the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education (CUE).

March 30: SURCA Judges Needed

SURCA is March 30 and we are currently seeking judges to spend 2 hours judging posters. Please plan to be available from 2:00 – 3:45 Monday March 30. Please sign up here at the SURCA website.

Digital Ag-athon April 2-3

Use cloud computing, the Microsoft Azure platform, satellite and other imagery to deliver agriculture-focused insights. Open to WSU students/postdocs/researchers from all backgrounds and campuses. Limited travel support available.

NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide FAQs Available

Now available! A new set of Current and Pending Support Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF) that accompany the revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1), effective June 1, 2020. The FAQs address policy questions related to the PAPPG clarifications to the current and pending support coverage, as well as questions regarding use of an NSF-approved format for current and pending support. The FAQs will be updated periodically as appropriate. If you have any questions regarding the 2020 PAPPG, please contact the DIAS/Policy Office by email at policy@nsf.gov.

The FIZ- Our Makerspace/Your Course Partner

Are you teaching a course that requires or could benefit from fabrication? If so, check out the FIZ’s Course Partnership website to get started, FIZ Course Partnerships.

Crimson Spirit Award

Have you noticed a WSU employee going out of their way to help a colleague or customer? Nominate them for the Crimson Spirit award to recognize their excellent service. Submit a nomination.